Lions hoping for change of luck

by Jim Allen (Oct 9, 2010)

The time for do or die has come, with the Saitama Seibu Lions and
Chiba Lotte Marines fighting for postseason survival starting today at
Seibu Dome.

The Lions, who tripped up in the final days of the regular season to
hand the Pacific League championship to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks,
need to turn things around. The Marines hope to bring the momentum they
had on Oct. 1, when their third straight win allowed them to squeeze
into the last Climax Series berth.

"We blew it [the pennant]," Lions skipper Hisanobu Watanabe said of a
1-6 stretch that allowed the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to overtake the
Lions and clinch the pennant.

"Everyone has worked hard to reset themselves and get back on track.
The question is whether we can get it done on the field starting
tomorrow."

Although Watanabe will be without his leadoff man, second baseman
Yasuyuki Kataoka, the Lions have otherwise gotten healthy at the right
time.

Slugging infielder Takeya Nakamura had surgery during the season and
missed 2-1/2 months. In September, as Seibu fought for the pennant,
"Okawari-kun" batted .296 with 11 home runs in 20 games.

"Nakamura had surgery early so that he would be ready at this
crucial juncture," Watanabe said. "It's the same with [right-hander
Takayuki] Kishi and the same with [lefty Kazuhisa] Ishii.

"We're missing Kataoka, but we have plenty of depth."

Marines skipper Toshifumi Nishimura couldn't help but be reminded of Opening Day, when his team took on the Lions in their den.

"This is the same place we opened the season, and the feeling is
much the same as the day before Opening Day," Nishimura said. "Of
course, it is different, but the feeling is the same.

"The day before Opening Day, I said we needed to fight as one. We
are the challengers. [To win] we have to come together and do battle
with our opponents."

Game 1 of the best-of-three Climax Series first stage will see Lions
ace Hideaki Wakui (14-8) start against Marines southpaw Yoshihisa
Naruse (13-11), who said he's learned a thing or two since his last
postseason game in 2007.

Eight days after throwing a five-hit shutout in his playoff debut,
Naruse was shelled for four runs in 3-2/2 innings in a defeat that
prevented the Marines from going to the Japan Series.

"At that time, I tried hard to approach that game as I would any
other," Naruse said. "I didn't feel the need to change anything.

"But since then, and particularly this year, I've experienced so much. I think I can surpass what I did at that time [in 2007].

"I feel a great deal of anxiety, but I also know how much fun the
postseason can be. I intend to make each pitch count and enjoy the
moment."

Asked what he hoped for from his lefty, Nishimura said, "I expect him to pitch a winning game."

The Lions lost their season series with Lotte 13-11, but were 7-5 against the Marines at home.

The winner of their series will take on the Hawks in the
best-of-seven second stage at Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome starting on Oct.
14.

Hoshino eyes new uniform

Senichi Hoshino, who is being courted by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden
Eagles for their vacant managerial post, said Thursday he is eager to
hear what the team has in mind.

"In this world, if an offer comes your way, you have to sit down and talk," he said on TV.

Hoshino, who has managed the Japan Olympic team as well as the
Hanshin Tigers and Chunichi Dragons, is currently a senior advisor to
the Tigers owner.

"The Tigers are still taking part in the Climax Series, so it's not
urgent that I give my answer immediately," he said. "The question is
whether I have the fire for it or not."